For several months now, the implementation of European drone regulations in France has been held up due to delays in updating the “Espace” decree. So now you’re probably wondering, “How to legally fly a drone in France?” Flying a drone can be an exciting and rewarding experience, especially in urban areas. No matter whether you operate it for commercial, creative, or recreational purposes, it’s important to know what’s currently allowed and how recent political developments will impact drone operators across the country.
A Step Forward for Drone Pilots in France
Thanks to the growing pressure from within the drone community and a constructive dialogue between industry stakeholders and political representatives, we’ve seen a promising development. In fact, MP Mickaël Bouloux submitted Written Question No. 5988 to the Minister of the Interior, where he challenged the restrictive state of drone regulation in urban France. This is a direct response to the lack of updates to the “airspace” decree, which currently prevents many types of urban drone operations that are otherwise authorised under EU law.
How to Legally Fly a Drone in France In the Open Category
The open category is the most accessible framework for drone operations under EU regulations, but in France, it’s significantly limited. According to national regulations, open category operations in city areas are only allowed in private spaces. A private space requires the consent of the property occupant. In practice, this means that in addition to the safety distances defined by the European open category, pilots must only fly where they have the consent of the property occupant.
Flying in public areas (streets, parks, beaches, and more) is currently prohibited. That makes flying legally in urban areas under this category nearly impossible unless you have explicit permission from the property owner.
What You Need to Know About Safety Distances and Training
These subcategories follow the DSAC open category guide.
| UAS | Distance from people | Training | |
| A1 | C0 (<250g) – Privately built (<250g) | Flying over isolated people is tolerated. No flying over crowds. | Read the drone’s user manual. Reading the guide and passing the open category theory exam is recommended. |
| A1 | C1 (<900g) | Close to people | Read the manual. Required: open category theory exam. |
| A2 | C2 (<4kg) | 30m from people (5m if low-speed mode is available and activated) | Read the manual. Required: open category theory exam + self-declared practical training + additional theory exam → Issuance of a remote pilot competency certificate. |
| A3 | C2 (<4kg), C3 (<25kg), C4 (<25kg) | At least 150m from residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational areas | Read the manual. Required: open category theory exam. |
The Specific Category – STS-01 and STS-02 Standard Scenarios
France’s specific category includes standard scenarios STS-01 and STS-02, which at first glance appear to offer a route for urban air mobility. However, in practice, these scenarios are tightly regulated. They require operations in spaces entirely under the pilot’s control, which often means – road closures or restricted-access zones. They also usually demand drones with C5 or C6 markings, which many manufacturers haven’t adopted yet. Therefore, the use of STS-01 and STS-02 is limited to specific drones and usage conditions.
The Specific Category – PDRA and the SORA Methodology
For professionals with a strong operational need and the resources to navigate more complex procedures, there’s a solution. The routes to take? The SORA methodology (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) or Pre-Defined Risk Assessments. These frameworks allow operations (even over people), once risks are analysed, mitigated, and approved by the French civil aviation authority (DGAC).
Even though SORA and PDRA are more complicated, they can often be used by business owners who already have a stable and proven business plan. But they are a big step forward in the highly regulated aviation world, with stricter rules for how things should be done and how they should be organised.
Comparison With Other European Countries
France’s position within the EU means it’s required to implement European drone regulations but its approach has been more conservative than other countries. Switzerland, though not in the EU, has adopted similar frameworks and is often cited as a benchmark for more permissive and pragmatic implementation.
France is often compared with other European countries in this regard. Based on our experience in both Switzerland and France, here is a comparison between the two:
| Regulation Aspect | France | Switzerland |
| Operator Registration | Required | Required |
| Drone Registration | Required for drones >800g | Not required |
| Open Category A1 | Only in private areas and not directly over people | Allowed everywhere except directly over people |
| Open Category A2 | Only in private areas, with a 1:1 distance to third parties | 1:1 distance to third parties |
| Open Category A3 | Only in private areas, 150m from residential, industrial, recreational, and commercial zones | Same 150m distance |
| STS-01 | Requires a C5-marked drone, with specified safety distances | Requires a C5-marked drone, with specified safety distances |
| STS-02 | Requires C6-marked drone, with large safety distances | Requires C6-marked drone, with large safety distances |
What’s Next for Urban Drone Operations in France?
The landscape for drone pilots in France is clearly evolving, however, it’s going slowly. If the government responds positively to MP Bouloux’s question and updates the airspace decree, we could see a shift that finally aligns national regulations with the freedoms intended under the European framework.
Until then, flying legally in urban areas in France remains a challenge, but not impossible. With the right approach, whether through private-space operations, standard scenarios, or risk-based authorisations, you can still work within the system.
At UASolutions, we specialise in helping drone operators and organisations across Europe navigate complex airspace regulations. We can offer support for flights in urban areas, to build a compliant drone program, or explore SORA and PDRA options. Contact us and we’re aim to democratise the skies together!
